January 14, 2009

This week the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) reported the first rise in the number of adults reading literature since they began their survey in 1982. In fact, 16.6 million more adults reported reading literature (novels and short stories, plays, or poems) in 2008. And, the most rapid increase was in literature reading by young adults aged 18-24.

This same week the National Center for Educational Statistics finally released its 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy, reporting that roughly 32 million U.S. adults (nearly one in seven) lack Basic Prose Literacy Skills and aren’t able to read at all or can read only the simplest of messages.
What does this mean? How can more people be reading literature while so many other people are “functionally illiterate”?

It seems to me—and it’s spelled out in the NCTE/IRA Standards for the English Language Arts and in NCTE’s Definition of 21st Century Literacies —that reading is just one part of literacy. In fact, to be literate today one must read and write; speak, listen, and view; think critically, act creatively and collaboratively; and manage, analyze, and synthesize multiple streams of simultaneous information.

When I look at the criteria for the National Endowment for the Arts study, I’m delighted that adults are reading “literature,” but I can’t help but wonder how many more adults might be reading nonfiction, reading webpages, reading images, doing important reading that doesn’t fit under the NEA definition of literature.

Then I think about those many adults who can’t read in English or who can only “locate easily identifiable information in short, commonplace prose text.” What will become of them? How will they function in a fast-moving world that relies on printed and graphic texts?/p>
And adults aren’t our only concern. In "Training Focuses on Improving Literacy,” NCTE president Kylene Beers says, “Our kids just aren't as literate as they need to be." I have to agree.

With all they see and hear around them, many kids still have difficulty digging below the surface—deeply “reading” what the world has to offer them.
One way we can help is by gearing what and how we teach in class toward helping our students develop high level literacy skills that will serve them now and in the future.

NCTE’s 21st NCTE Framework for 21st Century Curriculum and Assessment serves as a good guideline for how we might do this.

January 13, 2009

More American Adults Read Literature According to New
NEA Study

Contact:
Sally Gifford
202.682.5606
giffords@arts.gov

Literary reading on the rise for first time in history of Arts Endowment survey

January 12, 2009

Washington, D.C. -- For the first time in more than 25 years, American
adults are reading more literature, according to a new study by the National
Endowment for the Arts. Reading on the Rise documents a definitive increase
in rates and numbers of American adults who read literature, with the biggest
increases among young adults, ages 18-24. This new growth reverses two decades
of downward trends cited previously in NEA reports such as Reading at Risk
and To Read or Not To Read.

"At a time of immense cultural pessimism, the NEA is pleased to announce
some important good news. Literary reading has risen in the U.S. for the first
time in a quarter century," said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. "This
dramatic turnaround shows that the many programs now focused on reading, including
our own Big Read, are working. Cultural decline is not inevitable."

Among the key findings:

Literary reading increases

For the first time in the history of the survey - conducted
five times since 1982 - the overall rate at which adults read literature
(novels and short stories, plays, or poems) rose by seven percent.

The absolute number of literary readers has grown significantly.
There were 16.6 million more adult readers of literature in 2008. The growth
in new readers reflects higher adult reading rates combined with overall
population growth.

The 2008 increases followed significant declines in reading rates
for the two most recent ten-year survey periods (1982-1992 and 1992-2002).

Demographics of literature readers

Young adults show the most rapid increases in literary reading. Since
2002, 18-24 year olds have seen the biggest increase (nine percent) in
literary reading, and the most rapid rate of increase (21 percent). This
jump reversed a 20 percent rate of decline in the 2002 survey, the steepest
rate of decline since the NEA survey began.

Since 2002, reading has increased at the sharpest rate (+20 percent)
among Hispanic Americans, Reading rates have increased among African Americans
by 15 percent, and among Whites at an eight percent rate of increase.

For
the first time in the survey's history, literary reading
has increased among both men and women. Literary reading rates have grown
or held steady for adults of all education levels.

Trends in media and literary preferences

Fiction (novels and short stories) accounts for the new growth in
adult literary readers.

Online readers also report reading books. Eighty-four percent of
adults who read literature (fiction, poetry, or drama) on or downloaded from
the Internet also read books, whether print or online.

Nearly 15 percent of all U.S. adults read literature online in 2008.

A tale of two Americas

The U.S. population now breaks into two almost equally sized groups – readers
and non-readers.

A slight majority of American adults now read literature (113 million)
or books (119 million) in any format.

Reading is an important indicator of positive individual and social
behavior patterns. Previous NEA research has shown that literary readers
volunteer, attend arts and sports events, do outdoor activities, and exercise
at higher rates than non-readers.

The NEA research brochure Reading on the Rise is based on early results
from the 2008 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA). SPPA is a
periodic survey that has been conducted five times since 1982 using data obtained
in partnership with the United States Census Bureau. Detailed results from
the 2008 survey will be available in 2009. The 2008 SPPA survey has a sample
size of more than 18,000 adults. The 2008 survey's literary reading questions
- which form the focus of Reading on the Rise - were the same as
in previous years: "During
the last 12 months, did you read any a) novels or short stories; b) poetry;
or c) plays?" Since 1992, the survey also has asked about book-reading.
In 2008, the survey introduced new questions about reading preferences and
reading on the Internet.

NEA literature initiatives

The issue of declining reading rates has been addressed by a number of public
and private initiatives. The Arts Endowment has embraced the challenge with
a range of programs to promote reading among young audiences. In 2003, the
NEA launched Shakespeare in American Communities, the largest tour of Shakespeare
in American history, reaching more than 21 million students through performances
and educational resources. The Big Read, a partnership with the Institute of
Museum and Library Services, encourages communities to read, discuss, and celebrate
selections from American and world literature. Poetry Out Loud: National Poetry
Recitation Contest has introduced thousands of high school students nationwide
to classic and contemporary poetry through this dynamic recitation competition.

NEA research resources

Since 1976, the NEA Office of Research & Analysis has issued periodic
research reports, brochures, and notes on topics affecting arts and cultural
policy and matters of vital interest to artists and arts organizations. Most
recently, the NEA has produced reports on nonprofit theater, artist employment
trends, and the arts and civic engagement. Reading on the Rise, along
with other NEA research, is available for download at www.nea.gov/research.

About the National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting
excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all
Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress
in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment
is the largest annual national funder of the arts, bringing great art to all
50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.